cherry
noun
cher·ry ˈcher-ē 
ˈche-rē
plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that include some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers compare sour cherry, sweet cherry
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish-brown wood of a cherry
especially : black cherry sense 2
2
: a variable color averaging a moderate red
3
informal
a
: hymen
b
: virginity
4
informal : the burning end of a lit cigarette or cigar
I'm horrified: Dag is burning holes in the roof of the car with the cherry of his cigarette.
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland"Oh lord. Be quiet and maybe he won't find me. Put out your cigarette, Ryder, he'll see the cherry." Julie Buntin
Julie Buntin cherrylike
ˈcher-ē-ˌlīk
adjective ˈche-rē-
Example Sentences
The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.
Recent Examples on the Web The mushrooms got thrown into a stir fry with steak and the cherry tomatoes became a quick pasta sauce. Sean Mcdonnell, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2022 Funke’s puttanesca involves a thick sugo di pomodoro studded with cherry tomatoes strewn throughout, adding pops of fresh tomato to the sauce. Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Serve this beef Easter dinner with a fresh arugula salad, shaved Parmesan cheese, and blistered cherry tomatoes. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2022 But, unlike some low-carbon or clean-energy technology stocks that promise profits in the distant future, Denbury already generates profits today, which means the carbon business would be a nice cherry on top rather than a necessity. Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 Christensen’s deliciously shaggy crop is just the cherry on top of the cake—and all the better for detangling after those cold water sessions. Alice Newbold, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2022 The bacon flavor is just the cherry on top of a toy that your pup will never want to put down. Lindsey Murray, Good Housekeeping, 16 Aug. 2022 The fact that the series also incorporates the kind of stunningly atmospheric visual effects del Toro is known for is the cherry on top. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2022 The cherry on top of this return is Top Dolla, Ashante Thee Adonis and B-Fab made their return. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 See More
Sean Mcdonnell, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2022 Funke’s puttanesca involves a thick sugo di pomodoro studded with cherry tomatoes strewn throughout, adding pops of fresh tomato to the sauce. Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 Serve this beef Easter dinner with a fresh arugula salad, shaved Parmesan cheese, and blistered cherry tomatoes. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2022 But, unlike some low-carbon or clean-energy technology stocks that promise profits in the distant future, Denbury already generates profits today, which means the carbon business would be a nice cherry on top rather than a necessity. Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 Christensen’s deliciously shaggy crop is just the cherry on top of the cake—and all the better for detangling after those cold water sessions. Alice Newbold, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2022 The bacon flavor is just the cherry on top of a toy that your pup will never want to put down. Lindsey Murray, Good Housekeeping, 16 Aug. 2022 The fact that the series also incorporates the kind of stunningly atmospheric visual effects del Toro is known for is the cherry on top. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2022 The cherry on top of this return is Top Dolla, Ashante Thee Adonis and B-Fab made their return. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English chery, from Anglo-French cherise, cirice (taken as a plural), from Late Latin ceresia, from Latin cerasus cherry tree, from Greek kerasos
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing cherry
Kids Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry ˈcher-ē
plural cherries
1
: the small round yellow to deep red smooth-skinned fruit of a tree that is related to the plum tree
2
: a medium red
Medical Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry ˈcher-ē
plural cherries
1
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that belong to any of several varieties including some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers
2
: the fruit of a cherry
- cannot be helped
- cannot be overemphasized
- cannot be overstated
- cannot but
- cannot help
- cannot help but
- cannot help oneself
- cannot overemphasize
- cannot stand
- cannot/can't stand
- cannoted
- cannoting
- cannots
- cannotted
- cannotting
- canns
- cannula
- cannulae
- cannular
- cannulas
- cannulate
- cannulated
- cannulating
- cannulation
- cannulations